Game device for manipulating separable playing pieces

ABSTRACT

An amusement device challenging the dexterity and skill of players in the progressive advancement of fragile playing pieces along a chute without dismemberment of the playing piece to the embarrassment of the player. A suitable playing piece may be hollow egg-shaped and formed of parts held delicately assembled and enclosing a heavy loose part, preferably of non-spherical shape, effective to fall apart if the playing piece is not carefully maneuvered in play. The chutes are equipped with movable barriers manipulatable by the players to control advance of the individual playing pieces.

United States Patent 1 Kong Nov. 13, 1973 1 GAME DEVICE FOR MANIPULATINGSEPARABLE PLAYING PIECES [76] Inventor: Elizabeth L. Kong, 12331- /2Magnolia Street, El Monte, Calif. 91732 [22] Filed: Nov. 3, 1972 [21]Appl. No.: 303,608

[52] 11.8. CI. 273/110, 273/1 R, 273/128 R [51] Int. Cl A63b 67/00 [58]Field of Search 273/1 R, 95 R, 106 R,

273/108,l09,l10, 111, 113,115,117, 118 R, 120 R, 128 R, 128 A, 138 R,154; 46/43,

OTHER PUBLICATIONS Creative Playthings Catalogue, No. 118 Tumble Tower,Nov. 1971.

Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Harry G.Strappello Att0meyW. D. Sellers et a1.

57 ABSTRACT An amusement device challenging the dexterity and skill ofplayers in the progressive advancement of fragile playing pieces along achute without dismemberment of the playing piece to the embarrassment ofthe player. A suitable playing piece may be hollow eggshaped and formedof parts held delicately assembled and enclosing a heavy loose part,preferably of nonspherical shape, effective to fall apart if the playingpiece is not carefully maneuvered in play. The chutes are equipped withmovable barriers manipulatable by the players to control advance of theindividual playing pieces.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures GAME DEVICE FOR MANIPULATING SEPARABLEPLAYING PIECES This invention relates to amusement devices, and moreparticularly to a game of skill for two or more players utilizing afragile playing piece which may be advanced progressively along achute-like passageway without dismemberment provided adequate playingskill is employed. I

An illustrative embodiment of the invention includes a plurality ofchute-like passages supported in an inclined or upright position andeach equipped with a plurality of movable barriers manipulatable insuccession to advance a fragile playing piece from a starting to afinish position. Typically, the playing chutes are supported about theperiphery of an upright main body terminating at its lower end inseparate receiving receptacles for the individual playing pieces. Leversprojecting through the sides of the chutes are individually'manipulatable to release the playing piece from one portion of thechute to the next lower portion. Each barrier includes biasing means forholding it normally in position to block passage of the playing pieceunless deliberately manipulated.

The. playing piece may comprise an irregularly shaped hollow member,such as a simulated egg shell, parts of which are delicately heldassembled, as by snap fit. A non-spherical heavy article freely movableinteriorly of the playing piece greatly increases the unpredictabilityof the movement of the playing piece and as is equally true of thedifferently contoured opposite ends of the playing piece with the resultthat the piece may come to rest in innumerable different positionsadditionally augmented by the position therein of the irregular shape ofthe captive mass. Theobject of the players is to have their playingpiece reach the outlet end of the chute firstwithout dismemberment.Dismemberment of any playing piece disqualifies tha player from furtherplay.

Accordingly, ,it is a primary object of this invention to provide asimple, rugged and intriguing amusement device of novel construction.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a unique simpledevice challenging the skill and dexterity of a plurality of playersutilizing individual playing pieces subject to dismemberment if notskillfully maneuvered in play.

These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading thefollowing specification and claims and upon considering in connectiontherewith the attached drawing to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawing in which a preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an illustrative embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale with portionsof the device broken away to show constructional details;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 33 on FIG. 2; a

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a typical playing piece in assembledcondition;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 55 on FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one of the movable barriers.

Referring more particularly, initially, to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there isshown an amusement device, designated generally 10, incorporating theprinciples of this invention. Device 10 has a deep, saucer-like base 1 1supporting a rigid tubular main body 12 having a plurality of chute-likepassages 13 extending vertically of each outer sidewall. As clearlyshown by way of example, chutes .13 are generally rectangular in crosssection and have an inlet opening 14 at their upper end and an outlet 15at their lower end. The saucer like base 11 is provided with radialpartitions 16' (FIG. 2) between adjacent chutes confining the playingpiece from each chute to the area between the partitions. As hereinshown,'the sidewalls of chutes '13 are molded integral with the mainbody, the front of these chutes being closed by an individual coverplate 18 having inturned flanges 19 along either lateral edge slidablyengaged in and retained captive by grooves 20 of the chute sidewalls.These cover plates maybe opaque, as 18, or transparent as 18'.

The interior of each chute 13 is subdivided into separate portions bymovable barriers 25 having the 'constructional features bestillustratedin FIG. 6. These barriers include a scoop-like inner end 26, one or moreresilient tangs'27,27 and an operating handle 28. The barriers alsoinclude at least one tang 29 and possibly a 'second tang 30 projectingin opposite directions from the mid-portion of the barrier andcooperating with the adjacent surfaces of the chute sidewalls to holdthe barrier assembled within a slot 32 in the chute sidewall. Slots ,32are closed at their inlet ends by cover plate 18 and so shaped as topermit but limited pivotal movement of the barrier between the full anddotted line positions thereof shown in FIG. 3. If,tangs.30 interferewith the free movement of the barriers they may be omitted since tang 29and the resilient fingers or tangs 27 are sufficient to hold thebarriers in position. The resilient fingers 27 urge the barriers totheir normal full line position illustrated in FIG. 3.

The barriers 25 are preferably arranged in staggered echelon relationand, are so disposed relative to one another that the. release of theplaying piece from an upper position onto a lower barrierblocks thepassage of the playing piece against further advance along the chuteuntil the lower barrier is manipulated by the player. I r

, Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5,'there is shown an illustra-v tive playingpiece in the form of a hollow egg-shaped member 35 formed in two halves36,37 having overlapping edges 38,39 so shaped as to have a delicateretaining action effective to hold parts 36,37 assembled if the playingpiece is manipulated with care. However, a sudden jar or impact actionis effective under most circumstances to separate the two halves and topermit an internal component 40 to escape. Component 40 isrepresentative of an egg yolk and is preferably of irregular ornon-spherical shape with'the result that it is likely to I tumbleirradically and unpredictably within the playing player whether or nothe may proceed to move his playing piece and, if so, by a stated numberof positions of advance. Each player starts with his own distinctivelycolored playing piece positioned on the uppermost one of the barriers inhis selected playing chute. The player first advancing his playing piecethrough the outlet without dismemberment is declared the winner. Anyplayer whose playing piece is dismembered in play is immediatelydisqualified.

While the particular amusement device herein shown and disclosed indetail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing theadvantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merelyillustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention andthat no limitations are intended to the detail of construction or designherein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An amusement device for use by more than one player, said devicehaving a main body provided with a separate playing chute for eachplayer steeply inclined upwardly from the outlet end thereof, each ofsaid chutes including a plurality of barriers movably supported atspaced intervals therealong and each including actuating meansmanipulatable by the player to release a playing piece for gravitymovement into contact with the next lower one of said barriers, and aseparate playing piece for each of said chutes, each of said playingpieces being formed in a plurality of parts and including means forholding said parts releasably assembled and responsive to light impactforce to become dismembered if allowed to move along one of said chuteswithout due care on the part of a player.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said chutes arearranged in edge to edge relation.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said chutes arearranged about a common upright axis.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 characterized in that said main bodyincludes receptacle means at the base of said chutes for receiving theplayer piece from the respective chutes as the same issues from therespective chute outlets.

5. A device as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said movablebarriers each have individual operator means therefor separatelymanipulatable by a player to effect transfer of a playing piece from oneportion of a given chute to the next lower portion of the same chute.

6. A device as defined in claim 5 characterized in that said movablebarriers are staggered in echelon along said chutes.

7. A device as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said playingpieces are hollow and include a heavy object held captive but free totumble from place to place interiorly of the playing piece so long asthe same remains assembled.

8. A device as defined in claim 7 characterized in that said playingpiece is egg-shaped and formed in two principal parts.

9. A device as defined in claim 7 characterized in that said heavyobject within said playing piece is nonspherical in contour.

10. A device as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said movablebarriers are integral and include means for normally holding the same inposition to hold the playing piece captive in the adjacent area of thechute until manually moved to a position releasing the playing piece forgravity movement onto the next lower one of said movable barriers.

1. An amusement device for use by more than one player, said devicehaving a main body provided with a separate playing chute for eachplayer steeply inclined upwardly from the outlet end thereof, each ofsaid chutes including a plurality of barriers movably supported atspaced intervals therealong and each including actuating meansmanipulatable by the player to release a playing piece for gravitymovement into contact with the next lower one of said barriers, and aseparate playing piece for each of said chutes, each of said playingpieces being formed in a plurality of parts and including means forholding said parts releasably assembled and responsive to light impactforce to become dismembered if allowed to move along one of said chuteswithout due care on the part of a player.
 2. A device as defined inclaim 1 characterized in that said chutes are arranged in edge to edgerelation.
 3. A device as defined in claim 1 characterized in that saidchutes are arranged about a common upright axis.
 4. A device as definedin claim 3 characterized in that said main body includes receptaclemeans at the base of said chutes for receiving the player piece from therespective chutes as the same issues from the respective chute outlets.5. A device as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said movablebarriers each have individual operator means therefor separatelymanipulatable by a player to effect transfer of a playing piece from oneportion of a given chute to the next lower portion of the same chute. 6.A device as defined in claim 5 characterized in that said movablebarriers are staggered in echelon along said chutes.
 7. A device asdefined in claim 1 characterized in that said playing pieces are hollowand include a heavy object held captive but free to tumble from place toplace interiorly of the playing piece so long as the same remainsassembled.
 8. A device as defined in claim 7 characterized in that saidplaying piece is egg-shaped and formed in two principal parts.
 9. Adevice as defined in claim 7 characterized in that said heavy objectwithin said playing piece is non-spherical in contour.
 10. A device asdefined in claim 1 characterized in that said movable barriers areintegral and include means for normally holding the same in position tohold the playing piece captive in the adjacent area of the chute untilmanually moved to a position releasing the playing piece for gravitymovement onto the next lower one of said movable barriers.